After finishing last season with a level of chemistry that hadn’t really been matched by a Patriots secondary in several seasons, Bill Belichick’s staff opted to keep the unit intact for at least one more run together.

Yet, even with the starting corps of cornerbacks back in the mix, the Patriots could still select a corner in this week’s draft. It wouldn’t hurt to take advantage of a deep class, and there’s no shame in developing the bottom of the depth chart to avoid a significant drop-off in skill in the event of an injury.

The Pats re-signed left cornerback Aqib Talib to a one-year, $5 million contract, and the prove-it deal should yield a nice return on the investment as he showcases himself before trying to earn a bigger payday next offseason.

Kyle Arrington, a slot specialist who can also play on the right side, remained in town on a four-year, $16 million contract. And second-year corner Alfonzo Dennard escaped jail time in 2013 after his guilty verdict for assaulting an officer, so he’ll be ready to roam the right side again.

While the Patriots must be happy to have their starting trio in tow, they have to be cognizant of the possibility Talib will bolt next year, so it would be a luxury to have his potential replacement in uniform for a full season. Plus, both Talib and Dennard missed significant time due to injury last season.

The draft class’ consensus top pick is Alabama’s Dee Milliner, and he’ll be gone in the top 10. Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes and Houston’s D.J. Hayden should also be off the board before the Pats are up at No. 29, but Boise State’s Jamar Taylor and Washington’s Desmond Trufant, who have both visited Gillette Stadium, could be solid options in the opening round. Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks is also a possibility.

“I like Jamar Taylor a lot,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “He fits what the Patriots do. He has the kind of size the Patriots are looking for. He’s a very football-savvy kid. He plays the ball really well, and he’s a really, really tough kid who can play the run. For me, he kind of checks the boxes you want at the position, especially in New England.”

But if the Patriots don’t want to target a corner in the first round, they can wait and find comparable talent later, whether it’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson from UConn in the second round, slot corner Tyrann Mathieu from LSU in the third or fourth round, or any host of players thereafter, such as William & Mary’s B.W. Webb, Southeastern Louisiana’s Robert Alford or Mississippi State’s Darius Slay.

So, while the Patriots aren’t going to fill a perceivably immediate need, there are some good reasons to target a cornerback this week, whether it’s up top or deeper into the weekend.